Total Turtle Transformation (TMNT Book 4)

Finding (Naomi POV)

Running across roofs, I searched with my mind, trying to find the small sliver of a familiar mind. Just one, not all… There. In the alley four blocks ahead of me. I jumped down and there she was.

“Naomi,” Reiley said, getting up from the shadows. “I didn’t think you were serious.”

I frowned, “We going or not? I kinda have much to do.”

“With the Foot and Shredder?” Reiley scoffed. “You won’t get that far with Shredder watching your every move.”

“You told him what I told you to tell him?” I asked.

“Yep.” she nodded. “He won’t believe me until you come and do your stuff.”

“I was looking for you. Now can we please hurry? The guys’ll come after me if Splinter doesn’t stop them…”

“You didn’t tell them?”

“Why would I?” I snapped, already heading off. “So they could tie me up and not come?”

Following me, Reiley said, “You’d eventually get out anyway. Nobody can really keep you in one place for long.”

“Anyone but me can’t keep me locked up, but I can keep myself still long enough for my own purposes.” I sighed. “Now which way? Leo was driving last time and that was with those Go-Carts.”

“Oh, I heard about that.” Reiley chuckled. “Shredder was maaaad. And left.”

“Wouldn’t blame him,” I scoffed, turning that way. “So if I can stay with you guys, I’ll need a room.”

“Bunk with me. Karai has her own room already.”

“And I’ll need a container, but you all will figure something else out later…”

“Container? To hold what?”

I shook my head, continuing. “Nothing for now… Just later.”

“We’re here.” Reiley said. She walked up to the door with me right behind her and knocked on the door with a pattern.

The door swung open and we walked in. A Foot soldier pointed a Scythe at me. I didn’t flinch, reading his mind by his orders not to hurt me in anyway… It worried me a little, because that meant that Shredder wanted something from me.

We walked down a pathway with glass on either side filled with water. I took a step on the glass, but it didn’t creak or crack, so I walked on it for the fun of it. I’m walkin’ on water!

Karai came up and pointed her Wakizashi at me, looking at me carefully through her face mask. Her amber eyes reminded me of someone, but I couldn’t put my shell on it…

All the bad guys I knew were here; Baxter Stockman, Dogpound, Fishface, Reiley, Karai, FootClan everywhere, and Shredder was sitting on a throne-like chair on top of a ton of steps.

When Reiley and I walked up, Reiley bowed down respectfully. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to because I was unsure about this whole plan anyway… Ever since I knew about this, I’ve been on my toes because I wasn’t even sure if my life would end right here and now. So to lower my chances of dying, I bowed down like Reiley.

Heavy metal footsteps came down the stairs, and I felt my heart race through my shells… Why… I was so stupid!

“Get up, now.” Shredder demanded above me.

I got up without question and gave him my usual look, even though I was as scared as Raph with his cockroach problem on the inside.

“You’re the one that seems to know everything…” Shredder said. “Then you can tell me where Splinter is.”

“My mind cannot read that far out,” I answered, somewhat truthfully. It does have a limit. “But last I saw them, they were…” I gave him the directions of mine and Mikito’s old lair. “But they move a lot. They might’ve moved as soon as they knew I was gone.”

He sent Dogpound, Karai, Fishface, and a few FootClan soldiers to search the place. “You shall stay here.”

Silently, I gulped and nodded, “Hai, Master Shredder.”

“You have good manners, but hey will do you hardly any good here,” Shredder observed. “but what is your name?”

“Naomi,” I replied. The group of Foot left, leaving Reiley, me, Baxter, and Shredder alone in this chapel.

“You use the staff,” Shredder said, reaching his hand forward and grabbing my staff from its pouch. I felt bare as soon as it left it’s sheath. “But it’s made from metal. Not to break as easily, correct?”

I bowed my head, nervousness racking my insides like a hurricane. Honestly, I wanted to hurl right now…

He gave my staff back and I put it back as to not give him any bad signs or thoughts about me right off the bat. “And what is that?” he pointed at my Kraang wound.

Instinct took over and I laid a hand over it, protecting it from everyone’s eyes. I’ve been living with the other Turtles and they gradually got used to it, so being in front of someone new just scared me.

But, I answered anyway, “I got shot…”

“And you survived something like that?” Shredder asked. Then chuckled evilly. Much more than I could ever do. “You must be strong. We need someone like you.”

I smirked my evil smirked and he looked at me carefully. “Very well, Naomi. For now, Reiley will keep an eye on you. After the patrol gets back, we’ll talk more…”

“Hai, Master Sp--Shredder…” I chocked.

Shredder looked at me with a sinister look before turning back around to his throne. Reiley led me away and I breathed out thankfully and looked at her, “Got a bathroom?”